Hardware architecture for universal testing system: wireless router test

ABSTRACT

A hardware architecture for a universal testing system used for performing Wifi tests on wireless devices under test (DUT) is disclosed. According to certain embodiments, test information travels from a Wifi port of the test server to the Wifi port&#39;s antenna in a Faraday cage, and then travels over the air to DUT&#39;s Wifi antenna in the same Faraday cage, and then to a LAN Ethernet port of the DUT, and then to the test server&#39;s Ethernet port.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/866,630, entitled “Universal Device Testing System,” filed Sep. 25, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,960,989, and to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/866,720, entitled “Core Testing Machine,” filed Sep. 25, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,810,735, and to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/866,752, entitled “Universal Device Testing Interface,” filed Sep. 25, 2015 and published Mar. 30, 2017 as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0093683, and to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/866,780, entitled “Set Top Boxes Under Test,” filed Sep. 25, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,491,454, and to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/929,180, entitled “Hardware Architecture for Universal Testing System: Cable Modem Test,” filed Oct. 30, 2015 and published May 4, 2017 as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0126536, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. This application is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/948,143, entitled “Cable Modems/eMTAs Under Test,” filed Nov. 20, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,992,084, and to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/948,925, entitled “Wireless Routers Under Test,” filed Nov. 23, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,838,295, and to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/987,538, entitled “Test Sequences Using Universal Testing System,” filed Jan. 4, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,900,116.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is directed to a system for testing devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a high-level hardware architecture of a universal testing system for wireless routers tests, according to certain embodiments.

FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are high-level schematics of a front view of a set of Faraday cages of a universal testing system, according to certain embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a high level schematic that illustrates the connectivity features of backplates (also known as backplanes) of physical slots to test servers, according to certain embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a high-level schematic of connectivity of a given DUT with a MOCA LAN harness and a MOCA WAN harness, according to certain embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a high-level schematic that illustrates a Wifi test hardware setup, according to certain embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Methods, systems, user interfaces, and other aspects of the invention are described. Reference will be made to certain embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to these particular embodiments alone. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents that are within the spirit and scope of the invention. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Moreover, in the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be practiced without these particular details. In other instances, methods, procedures, components, and networks that are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art are not described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a high-level hardware architecture of a universal testing system for wireless routers tests, according to certain embodiments. FIG. 1 shows a test station 100 that includes a test control computer 102 (test controller), a plurality of test servers 104 a-104 n, non-limiting examples of user interfaces that can include touch screen display 106, bar code scanners/keyboard/mouse (112), a remote tablet 108. Each of the plurality of test servers 104 a-104 n is associated with four Faraday cages/physical test slots. In each of the several physical test slots can be installed a device (e.g., wireless router) to be tested. Each installed device in the various physical slots is also referred to as a device under test (DUT). For ease of explanation and to avoid overcrowding the drawing of FIG. 1, FIG. 1 shows only one of the Faraday cages 114/test slots. Each Faraday cage/test slot 114 is associated with a MOCA Wan harness 120, a MOCA LAN harness 122 and a radio frequency (RF) splitter 124. According to certain embodiments, MOCA LAN harness 122 is connected to RF splitter 124 via RF cable 126 b. MOCA WAN harness 120 is connected to RF splitter 124 via RF cable 126 a. RF splitter 124 is connected to Faraday cage/test slot 114 via COAX cable 126 c. Faraday cage/test slot 114 has Ethernet connections to its associated test server. MOCA LAN harness 122 also has an Ethernet connection 129 to the associated test server. MOCA WAN harness 120 also has an Ethernet connection 128 to the associated test server. Test control computer 102 and test servers 104 a-104 n have a LAN 130 (Local Area Network) connection to a firewall/gateway/router 110, which in turn is connected to a WAN 132 (Wide Area Network). A user can optionally use remote wireless tablet 108 to interface with test station 100 remotely through a wireless communication 134 to firewall/gateway/router 110. According to certain embodiments, the firewall isolates the test framework of the testing system.

According to certain embodiments, the testing system comprises at least one test station. According to certain embodiments, each test station includes a plurality of Faraday cages/physical test slots. As a non-limiting example, a subset of the plurality of physical test slots is associated with a test server. As a non-limiting example, a test station may have plurality of test servers, each of which is associated with four Faraday cages/physical test slots. Further, embodiments are not restricted to four Faraday cages/physical test slots per test server. The number of test servers, Faraday cages/test slots may vary from implementation to implementation. According to certain embodiments, each test server includes virtualization containers that act as probes for testing devices installed in the physical slots in the test station.

According to certain embodiments, several wireless devices can be tested simultaneously in the test station.

According to certain embodiments, the user interface can communicate through web sockets with the test system. Such communication is in real-time, bidirectional and asynchronous so that the user can control and monitor the testing of multiple devices simultaneously and independently of each other using the same universal testing system.

According to certain embodiments, the testing system is capable of testing a set of similar types of devices or a set of disparate devices.

According to certain embodiments, test controller 102 is a computer subsystem that manages the user interfaces of the testing system. Thus, at least the following devices are connected to test controller 102: touch screen display 106, and bar code scanners/keyboard/mouse 112.

According to certain embodiments, touch screen display 106 is a touch-enabled screen that senses user/operator inputs for a given DUT. For example, each DUT is represented on the touch screen display as a window that includes test related information such as test progress and test results. As another non-limiting example, a user/operator can use touch screen display 106 to input light emitting diode (LED) status (is the LED lit or not lit) when the user/operator is prompted for inputs as part of the testing procedure of a given DUT.

According to certain embodiments, one or more the bar code scanners 112 can be used to read DUT information such as serial number of the DUT, and default Wifi passwords associated with the given DUT. Such information is needed to conduct testing on the given DUT.

According to certain embodiments, test controller 102 includes an Ethernet interface to connect to the plurality of test servers 104 a-104 n. Test controller 102 communicates with the plurality of test servers 104 a-104 n using such an Ethernet interface in order to conduct tests on the various DUTs that are installed in test station 100.

According to certain embodiments, keyboard/mouse 112 are part of test controller 102 and can be used by the user/operator to input data needed to run the tests on the various DUTs installed in test station 100.

According to certain embodiments, each test server of the plurality of test servers 104 a-104 n provides interfaces (hardware ports) needed to conduct one or more tests on the DUTs. Depending on the type of test, a given test may need a single port or multiple ports as part of the test infrastructure. According to certain embodiments, such ports are controlled by virtualization containers at the test servers.

According to certain embodiments, a given test server includes the following devices: PCI/PCI Express/Mini PCI Express slots, Ethernet connectivity hardware and software.

According to certain embodiments, the PCI/PCI Express/Mini PCI Express slots allow Wifi cards to be installed on a given test server to provide Wifi connectivity in order to perform Wifi tests on the DUTs. Such slots can also be used to install Ethernet cards to provide Ethernet ports in order to perform tests on the DUTs. According to certain embodiments, such PCI/PCI Express/Mini PCI Express slots can host a set of ports that can be associated with a corresponding set of virtualization containers on the test servers. Such virtualization containers are used for testing various features on the DUTs such as Wifi, LAN, WAN, or MoCa interfaces of a given DUT.

According to certain embodiments, the voice port associated with the FXO card is used for testing VoIP connection and functions.

According to certain embodiments, Ethernet connectivity hardware and software are provided in order to connect the test controller computer to the plurality of test servers for controlling the plurality of test servers.

According to certain embodiments, the test servers run test scripts to perform one or more tests such as: 1) testing Ethernet data throughput speeds, 2) testing WiFi throughput speeds, 3) testing MOCA throughput speeds, 4) testing voice over IP (VOIP) connections and functions, 5) testing MIMO (multi input, multi output) antenna technology, according to certain embodiments. According to certain embodiments, the test servers use virtualization containers to run such tests.

FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are high-level schematics of a front view of a set of Faraday cages/test slots of a universal testing system, according to certain embodiments. FIG. 2A shows a number of physical slots, such as slots 202 a, 202 b, 202 c, 202 d, 204 a, 204 b, 204 c, 204 d. Each slot has a backplate (202 ab, 202 bb, 202 cd, 202 db, 204 ab, 204 bb, 204 cd, 204 db). Backplates are also known as backplanes.

Similarly, FIG. 2B shows a number of physical slots, such as slots 206 a, 206 b, 206 c, 206 d, 208 a, 208 b, 208 c, 208 d. Each slot has a backplate (206 ab, 206 bb, 206 cd, 206 db, 208 ab, 208 bb, 208 cd, 208 db). Sample backplates are described herein with reference to FIG. 3 herein.

FIG. 3 is a high-level schematic that illustrates the connectivity features of backplates of physical slots relative to test servers, according to certain embodiments. For ease of explanation, FIG. 3 shows the connectivity of one backplate of the plurality of backplates to one test server of the plurality of test servers in the universal testing system, according to certain embodiments. As previously described, there are a plurality of test servers and a plurality of slots (and corresponding backplates) per test server, according to certain embodiments.

FIG. 3 shows a backplate 302 associated with a give slot that is, in turn, associated with a test server 304 in the universal testing system. Backplate 302 includes but is not limited to a power supply port 306, a set of ports 308, a subset of which are Ethernet ports 308 a, a set of coaxial ports 310, a set of voice ports 312, and a set of Wifi ports (314, 316). Server 304 includes but is not limited to a master Internet port 330, a set of Ethernet card ports 332 a-g, of which 4 ports (332 a-d) are Ethernet LAN ports, one Ethernet MOCA LAN port 332 e, one Ethernet MOCA WAN port 332 f, and one DUT WAN port 332 g. Test server 304 also includes a set of WiFi card ports 340 a-d. One or more of the WiFi card ports 340 a-d can be associated with a Wifi virtualization container on test server 304 for use in Wifi tests of the DUT, according to certain embodiments.

According to certain embodiments, port P3 of Ethernet ports 308 a is associated with port P1 of Ethernet card ports 332 a. Similarly, port P4 of Ethernet ports 308 a is associated with port P2 of Ethernet card ports 332 a. Port P5 of Ethernet ports 308 a is associated with port P3 of Ethernet card ports 332 a. Port P6 of Ethernet ports 308 a is associated with port P4 of Ethernet card ports 332 a.

According to certain embodiments, Wifi port 314 is associated with an antenna 314 a and is also associated with port P2 of Wifi card port 340 d via Wifi cable 314 b, for example. Wifi port 316 is associated with an antenna 316 a and is also associated with port P1 of Wifi card port 340 d via Wifi cable 316 b.

According to certain embodiments, a given DUT that is installed in a given slot is connected via coaxial ports 310 to the MOCA WAN Ethernet port (332 f) and MOCA LAN Ethernet port (332 e) via a corresponding MOCA WAN harness and a MOCA LAN harness, described in greater detail below.

FIG. 4 is a high-level schematic of connectivity of a given DUT (installed in a given slot) to a MOCA LAN harness and a MOCA WAN harness, according to certain embodiments. FIG. 4 shows MOCA WAN harness 120 and MOCA LAN harness 122 that are used for testing the MOCA WAN interface and the MOCA LAN interface, respectively, of DUT 402. MOCA WAN harness 120 and MOCA LAN harness 122 are connected to a power splitter 124 via RF cable 126 a and RF cable 126 b, respectively, according to certain embodiments. Power splitter 124 connects the MOCA LAN and MOCA WAN to DUT 402 via RF cable 126 c. According to certain embodiments, MOCA WAN harness 120 is also connected via Ethernet cable 128 to an Ethernet port 412 of a test server, where such an Ethernet port 412 is associated with a virtualization container on the test server. Similarly, MOCA LAN harness 122 is also connected via Ethernet cable 129 to an Ethernet port 408 of a test server, where such an Ethernet port 408 is associated with a virtualization container on the test server, according to certain embodiments. Further, DUT 402 is also connected to the test server via RF cable 418 to an Ethernet port 410 of the server that is associated with a virtualization container.

For example, test information (and/or other related information) can flow from Ethernet port 410 (and associated virtualization container) to DUT 402 and then to the MOCA LAN interface of MOCA LAN harness 122 and then to Ethernet port 408 (and associated virtualization container). Test information (and/or other related information) can also flow from Ethernet port 408 (and associated virtualization container) to the MOCA LAN interface of MOCA LAN harness 122, and then to DUT 402, and then to Ethernet port 410 (and associated virtualization container).

Similarly, test information (and other related information) can flow from Ethernet port 410 (and associated virtualization container) to DUT 402 and then to the MOCA WAN interface of MOCA WAN harness 120 and then to Ethernet port 412 (and associated virtualization container). Test information (and/or other related information) can also flow from Ethernet port 412 (and associated virtualization container) to the MOCA WAN interface of MOCA WAN harness 120, and then to DUT 402, and then to Ethernet port 410 (and associated virtualization container).

FIG. 5 is a high-level schematic that illustrates a Wifi test hardware setup, according to certain embodiments. FIG. 5 shows a Faraday cage 502 and a DUT 504. FIG. 5 also shows a Wifi antenna 506 that is associated with a Wifi card port (510) of a given test server. According to certain embodiments, such a Wifi card port (510) is associated with a virtualization container on the given test server. Such a virtualization container is for running Wifi tests on the DUT. According to certain embodiments, Wifi antenna 506 is in Faraday cage 502 along with the DUT's Wifi antenna 505. DUT 504 may be placed inside Faraday cage 502 or outside Faraday cage 502. FIG. 5 also shows that one of the LAN Ethernet ports of the DUT is connected via Ethernet cable 512 to the test server's Ethernet port (508), which in turn is associated with a virtualization container for handling such an Ethernet port. As a non-limiting example, test information (and other related information) can be sent via RF cable from Wifi card port 510 to antenna 506. The data then travels over the air to antenna 505 (DUT's Wifi antenna), and then to LAN Ethernet port of the DUT, and then to the test server's Ethernet port (508) via Ethernet cable 512. Thus, the test server can perform Wifi test information measurements.

In the foregoing specification, embodiments of the invention have been described with reference to numerous specific details that may vary from implementation to implementation. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. 

We claim:
 1. A test system for simultaneously and independently testing a plurality of wireless devices under test, the test system comprising: a test controller for managing user interfaces associated with the test system; a test server connected to the test controller; and a plurality of faraday cages, each faraday cage of the plurality of faraday cages configured to receive a wireless device under test of a plurality of wireless devices under test and having associated with it a set of ports for connecting a faraday cage to a wireless device under test associated with the faraday cage and to the test server, each set of ports comprising: a wireless port associated with an antenna internal to the faraday cage and connected to a wireless port on the test server, the wireless port on the test server being associated with a virtualization container for running wireless tests, a radio frequency port associated with a radio frequency port on an associated wireless device under test, and a networking port associated with a networking port on the associated wireless device under test and connected to a networking port on the test server, the networking port on the test server being associated with a virtualization container for running networking tests, wherein the test controller employs web sockets to communicate with the test server such that the plurality of devices under test may be tested simultaneously and independently of each other and that the communication between the user interfaces and the test server is real-time, bidirectional, and asynchronous.
 2. The test system of claim 1, further comprising: a Multimedia Over Coax Alliance (MoCA) Wide Area Network (WAN) harness associated with a networking port on the test server, a MoCA Local Areas Network (LAN) harness associated with a networking port on the test server, a splitter connected to the MoCA WAN harness, the MoCA LAN harness, and the radio frequency port on the faraday cage.
 3. The test system of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency port on the associated wireless device under test comprises a coaxial cable connector.
 4. The test system of claim 1, wherein each of the networking ports comprises an Ethernet port.
 5. The test system of claim 1, further comprising: at least one user interface device in communication with the test controller.
 6. The test system of claim 1, wherein a wireless signal test path is from the wireless port on the test server to the wireless port on the Faraday cage to the antenna internal to the Faraday cage to an antenna of the wireless device under test to the networking port of the wireless device under test to the networking port of the test server. 